Eternal Blue

Eternal Blue is the debut studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Spiritbox. It was released on September 17, 2021, through the band's own Pale Chord Records in partnership with Rise Records. Work began in 2018 but was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the album release initially slated for April 2020. Spiritbox relocated to Joshua Tree, California, and completed the songwriting process for the album, which former Volumes guitarist Dan Braunstein and the band's guitarist Mike Stringer produced. The recording was finished by Braunstein in February 2021. Eternal Blue contains an array of metal genres and subgenres with electronic elements as part of Spiritbox's dynamic, while singer Courtney LaPlante employs both screamed and clean vocals. The release marks the only studio album with bassist Bill Crook, who left the band in May 2022. In advance of the record's release, five songs became singles, "Holy Roller", "Constance", "Circle With Me", "Secret Garden", and "Hurt You", all of which have recorded entries on the American Billboard charts. Music critics reviewed the album positively, who generally praised its production, songwriting, and musicianship. Eternal Blue proved an immediate chart success for the band, recording entries in eight countries and debuting at number thirteen on the Billboard 200. Background In 2015, engaged couple Courtney LaPlante and Mike Stringer were members of American metalcore band Iwrestledabearonce. LaPlante had joined in 2012 to replace the band's vocalist, who had departed mid-tour; Stringer eventually followed as the band's new guitarist, playing on their final album Hail Mary (2015). Uncomfortable with being replacements for the band's previous members and desiring to pursue a new personal and creative direction, the two decided to quit the band in late 2015. After the two married, the duo announced their new project, Spiritbox, on October 9, 2017. As Spiritbox, the couple released a seven-song self-titled debut extended play on October 27, 2017, preceded by the single "The Beauty of Suffering". Former Iwrestledabearonce bandmate Mikey Montgomery played drums on the EP. Bill Crook of the pop-punk band Living with Lions joined as bassist, and Shreddy Krueger drummer Ryan Loerke became the band's first permanent drummer.